Mini Facelifts

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgery designed to counteract some of the typical signs of aging in a patient’s face and neck—and a mini facelift, also known as a weekend facelift, is a kind of facelift that focuses on correcting those areas in the lower third of the face. Through small incisions, Dr. Potyondy can tighten and restore some of the youthfulness of a person’s cheeks, jawline and neck. This outpatient procedure can be performed on its own or in conjunction with other procedures like facial implants, soft tissue augmentation and resurfacing techniques. Afterwards, the patient emerges from surgery with greater jaw definition, leading to a refreshed look and greater confidence. The best candidates for a mini facelift are healthy, nonsmoking individuals who have noticed a lack of definition in their jaws and want to tighten sagging skin.

How the Procedure Works

The first step in a mini facelift is anesthesia—depending on a patient’s situation, Dr. Potyondy will either recommend intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Next, after the patient has been made comfortable, the surgeon will create three or more small incisions around the areas where skin needs to be tightened, in order to remove excess skin and tighten up facial tissues. Sutures and/or staples close up the incisions, and the entire process takes between 40 and 90 minutes. Unlike a full facelift surgery, a mini facelift is a shorter, outpatient procedure that usually allows a person to go home the same day.

What Results to Expect From Mini Facelift

Immediately following surgery, a patient may have some scarring and swelling or even light bleeding, which is why he or she will have bandages at the site for a few days. A week later, sutures are removed and the patient has a refreshed look. While results from a mini facelift are not completely permanent, they can often last five to ten years, depending on the influence of aging, gravity and the patient’s environment.